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HEADLINE NEWS Week of March 1, 2015 – March 7, 2015

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Report: Obama Threatened to Shoot Down IAF Planes If Israel Struck Iran – 03/01Kuwaiti newspaper is reporting that President Obama, angered at Israeli plans to strike Iran nuclear facilities in 2014, threatened to shoot down Israeli planes before they could reach their targets.The paper, Al Jarida, cites only anonymous sources and just a handful of other publications have followed the story. But according to israelnationalnews.com, the Arabic newspaper quoted “well-placed” sources as saying Benjamin Netanyahu and two top aides “had decided to carry out air strikes against Iran’s nuclear program after consultations with top security commanders.””The Netanyahu government took the decision to strike Iran some time in 2014 soon after Israel had discovered the United States and Iran had been involved in secret talks over Iran’s nuclear program and were about to sign an agreement in that regard behind Israel’s back,” the website said.

THE HILL – Paul takes CPAC straw poll gold; Walker surges to second place – 02/28Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) won his third consecutive straw poll victory at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. But it was Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) who surged the most, coming in a close second with 21.4 percent behind Paul’s 25.7 percent among the field of 17 potential GOP contenders. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took third with 11.5 percent, followed by Dr. Ben Carson at 11.4 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 8.3 percent. All of the other candidates pulled less than 5 percent.

DAILY CALLER – Here’s How Trey Gowdy Is Fighting Back Against Obama’s Amnesty- 02/28(Daily Caller) – South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy has introduced an immigration bill to defund President Obama’s executive amnesty and expedite the removal of criminal aliens from U.S. soil. Named after Michael Davis, Jr., a sheriff’s deputy in California who was killed in the line of duty last year by an illegal immigrant, Gowdy’s bill would also provide a work-around for state and local governments to reinforce federal immigration laws while also implementing an annual review of the executive branch’s use of prosecutorial discretion in immigration cases. “If we are serious about finding a long term solution to our immigration system, we must address interior enforcement,” Gowdy, the Republican chairman of the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee, said in a statement announcing the measure. “This bill, which is one part of the Committee’s step-by-step process to address our broken immigration system, will ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and help us earn back the trust of the American public,” he added. If enacted, the bill would completely dismantle what Gowdy describes as Obama’s “unilateral, constitutional actions on immigration” by cutting off any and all funds to the initiative. It would also strip Obama and all future presidents of any power to unilaterally shut down immigration enforcement by allowing state and local governments the authorization to enforce federal immigration laws.

NEWSMAX – Anti-Boehner Coup Rumblings From House Conservatives Grow 02/27Conservatives on Capitol Hill are threatening to replace House Speaker John Boehner if he ducks a fight with the White House over illegal immigration and gives in to political pressure to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, The Hill reports. Talk of another coup attempt against Boehner “has grown louder,” The Hill reports, now that Senate Republicans have backed away from a House bill that blocks DHS from accommodating millions of illegal immigrants.

NEWSMAX – Net Neutrality: FCC Takes First Step in Federal Control over Internet – 02/26The FCC approved robust rules of the road for the Internet on Thursday, a move that supporters believe will prevent conglomerates from consolidating control over the flow of online content, but that critics characterize as a huge regulatory overreach. The FCC’s approach is one favored by many public interest groups, Hollywood content creators and a large number of web companies including Netflix and Twitter: It is reclassifying Internet service as a Title II telecommunications service, a regulatory designation akin to that of a utility. The FCC’s move was intended to give it solid authority to impose rules over Internet service. They prohibit ISPs from blocking or throttling content, as well as from collecting payments from content providers for speedier access to their subscribers. The latter has been commonly referred to as the idea that ISPs would eventually create Internet “fast lanes.”

THE DAILY SIGNAL – Why Congress, Not Just the Courts, Must Address Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions - 02/26If funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapses on Friday, there should be no confusion as to who is “defunding” Homeland Security. The House passed a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The legislation would prohibit funding for implementation of President Obama’s illegal executive actions on immigration, while still funding the agency. Senators choosing to filibuster this legislation have been willing to risk Homeland Security funding in order to protect Obama’s amnesty plan. The security of American citizens is being trumped by a desire to support unilateral, unconstitutional executive actions that would give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.

NEWSMAX – Soros, Ford Foundation Donated Nearly $200M to Pro-Net Neutrality Groups- 02/26As the Federal Communications Commission is set to approve new Internet rules, a new report shows that George Soros and the Ford Foundation have donated $196 million to groups that support the cause. From 2000 to 2013, the Ford Foundation has donated $113.6 million and the Open Society Foundations, founded by Soros, has donated $82.7 to pro-net neutrality groups, the Media Research Center is reporting. Both groups support changing the net neutrality rules. These left-wing groups not only impacted the public debate and funded top liberal think tanks,” the report from the Media Research Center states, “they also have direct ties to the White House and regulatory agencies.”

BREITBART – AMNESTY BENEFICIARIES COULD CLAIM MORE THAN $35K IN TAX BENEFITS IN FIRST YEAR- 02/26Illegal immigrants who are able to obtain Social Security Numbers and work permits as a result of President Obama’s executive amnesty could claim tens of thousands of dollars in back tax benefits, a new Congressional Research Service memo obtained first by Breitbart News reveals. The report comes following the Internal Revenue Service’s confirmation that once illegal immigrants are granted Social Security Numbers — as a result of Obama’s executive actions — they will be able to file back tax returns and obtain up to four years of tax benefits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

US5 Campaign – Congress Must Investigate Islamist Influence-Buying - 02/26Friday morning at CPAC, I will outline the urgent need for a thorough Congressional investigation into efforts by our enemies to buy influence in the American political and governmental system. We now have more than enough evidence that our political and intellectual communities are being penetrated by cash from foreign regimes in ways that are potentially very dangerous to the future of our free society. Congress has an obligation to establish how big the problem is and to consider new laws to protect American politics and government from being undermined and distorted by foreign opponents buying their way into positions of influence.

THEHILL – Senate advances ‘clean’ DHS bill in 98-2 vote – 02/25
February 25, 2015, 03:20 pmThe stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was broken Wednesday as the Senate voted 98-2 to proceed to legislation that would prevent a partial government shutdown. Democrats agreed to support the DHS bill after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) agreed to strip out provisions inserted by the House that would reverse President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The only votes against proceeding to the bill came from Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). “Democrats will support getting on the House Homeland Security funding bill. In exchange, the leader will provide the only amendment, [it] will be a clean Homeland Security funding substitute,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

THE HILL – Gutierrez: Obama eyes partial launch of anti-deportation program – 02/25 -I hope he does then has clearly & Flagrantly broken the law!A top House Democrat said Wednesday that President Obama is eying a partial launch of his new deportation-relief programs despite a federal court’s recent decision to block them. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said the administration is weighing whether it has the authority to initiate the executive actions in the states not involved in a lawsuit against them. Texas and 25 other states have sued the president over the new programs, which would shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. The administration has said it will comply with the ruling as it awaits the outcome of an appeal against it. But roughly a dozen other states have filed briefs in support of the executive programs, and immigration reform advocates are urging Obama to launch the initiatives in the 24 states not suing the White House.

THE HILL – McConnell ready to move ‘clean’ bill to avert Homeland Security shutdown 02/24Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said the Senate may vote “very quickly” on a clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill. Days before a shutdown of the critical agency, McConnell said he would “be happy” to pass a clean DHS funding bill before the Senate considers a narrow measure overturning President Obama’s most recent executive actions on immigration. His plan, if accepted by Senate Democrats and House Republicans, would prevent Homeland Security from shutting down on Saturday. McConnell noted the Senate is scheduled to vote Friday on legislation he introduced this week to reverse President Obama’s 2014 executive order shielding up to 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.

Gov. Scott Suspends 11th Grade Test, and Will “Reduce the Number of Tests”02/24By Allison Nielsen, Sunshine State News
Gov. Rick Scott flexed his gubernatorial muscle over Florida’s education system Tuesday morning, signing an executive order suspending a standardized test for the state’s 11th-graders. Scott’s executive order directs Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart and the Florida Department of Education to suspend the Florida Standards Assessment English language arts test for 11th-graders. Students were originally scheduled to take the test this spring (from March to May), but Scott said he’d sign an executive order to stop the test after the department concluded an investigation into statewide assessment tests last week. The results of the investigation prompted Stewart to conclude that Florida is oversaturated with standardized tests.

THEHILL – Pressure builds on GOP as deadline to fund DHS nears - 02/22Pressure is building on Republicans to avoid a partial shutdown of the Homeland Security Department amid an escalating battle over President Obama’s immigration policies. The GOP leaders are being squeezed from one side by conservatives insisting that legislation funding the agency must include provisions to undo Obama’s executive actions shielding millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. And they’re being pressed from the other by Obama and the Democrats who are demanding a “clean” proposal absent the immigration add-ons. With the Senate at an impasse – and the clock ticking quickly toward a Feb. 28 shutdown of the agency – some centrist Republicans on and off Capitol Hill are starting to lean more to the Democrats’ side, wary of both the practical effects of a DHS shutdown on national security, and the political harm such an event would do to their party.

THEHILL – Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush and the problem with baggage - 02/22Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush are dealing with the baggage of their political histories even before their 2016 campaigns officially begin. For the former secretary of state, the new scrutiny of Clinton Foundation donors — especially foreign governments and wealthy non-U.S. citizens — is bringing back memories of Whitewater and the selling of the White House Lincoln Bedroom to political patrons.Jeb Bush’s baggage is comprised of the decisions made by his father and his older brother during their years in the White House, particularly President George W. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq.

NEWSMAX – Giuliani: I’m Getting Death Threats for My Obama Remarks- 02/22Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday that his office has gotten some death threats following his statements earlier this week accusing President Barack Obama of not loving America, but he’s not backing down from what he said. “My secretary has received some death threats,” Giuliani told CNN. However, he insisted that most of the voicemails his office has received have been supportive. Giuliani did not tell CNN if he alerted police about the threats, and the network reported that it could not confirm if the calls were actually made.

NEWSMAX – Carter: US Considering Slowing Exit from Afghanistan - 02/22KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States is considering slowing its military exit from Afghanistan by keeping a larger-than-planned troop presence this year and next because the new Afghan government is proving to be a more reliable partner, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday.Carter, on his first overseas trip since starting the Pentagon job Tuesday, also said the Obama administration is “rethinking” the counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan, although he did not elaborate.

THEHILL – 10 GOP rainmakers to watch in ‘16- 02/22Republican White House hopefuls are working to win over a handful of GOP rainmakers who could bankroll their candidacies through a crowded and expensive primary season.With former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush locking down a number of key establishment donors already, it’s more critical than ever for other players to make inroads with the top undecided GOP moneymen.Here’s a look at the biggest names still on the board.The Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess, Harold Simmons Estate, Joe Ricketts, Fred Eschelman and Art Pope, Paul Singer, Bob Mercer, Peter Theil, All Conservative Billionaires. A network of 17 conservative groups backed by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch plans to spend nearly $1 billion in the 2016 campaign cycle — more than double what the groups spent in 2012.

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